Hydrangea plant named ‘Lindsey Ann’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant known by the varietal name ‘Lindsey Ann’, characterized by multiple unique flowers which will then produce new flowered sepals having, pink, mauve and blue colors.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘LINDSEY ANN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Lindsey Ann’. The new variety was discovered in the spring of 1998 in a cultivated location in Allendale, Mich. It was observed to be a unique multicolored Hydrangea with good cold temperature hardiness. Softwood cuttings were first taken in June 2002 and rooted in West Olive, Mich. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings since June 2002 in West Olive, Mich. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual reproduction.

The following traits distinguish ‘Lindsey Ann’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other Hydrangea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Produces two unique floral sepals with one type of flower         having deeply serrated sepals while adjacent flowers will have         smooth sepal on an adjacent flower;     -   2. Produces multiple unique flowers which will then produce new         flowered sepals having pink, mauve, and blue colors.

For example, Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differed from plants of ‘Nikko Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have an inflorescence color         different from plants of ‘Nikko Blue’:     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker green-colored,         glossier leaves than plants of ‘Nikko Blue’; and     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea had larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Nikko Blue’.

Similarly, Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Penny Mac’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differed from plants of ‘Penny Mac’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have an inflorescence color         different from plants of ‘Penny Mac’:     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker green-colored,         glossier leaves than plants of ‘Penny Mac’; and     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea had larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Penny Mac’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of an inflorescence of the new variety

FIG. 3 is an HTML Color Chart (a color reference) which stands for HyperText Markup Language Color Chart and which was published Apr. 3, 2013; the said HTML Color Chart incorporated herein by reference.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 15 cm. pots, in standard potting soil with granulated fertilizers at a pH of 6.0. The plants were 6 Years old when described. Measuring and color reading of the plants were taken in Michigan, USA under natural light.

-   Plant:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10-14 days at 22° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Fibrous, dense and freely branching.         -   Time to produce a young plant from a roots cutting.—About             40-50 days.         -   Form.—Perennial shrub with very broad shape and strong             lateral branching.         -   Height (from media surface to top of foliage).—60-77 cm.         -   Height (from media surface to top of the flowers).—76-81 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—60-77 cm.         -   Vigor.—Good.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Branching habit.—Strong lateral branching. -   Trunk:     -   -   Main trunk length.—60-70 cm.         -   Diameter.—6 mm.         -   Color.—A08060 (Refer to FIG. 3 for all colors).         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Internode length.—2.5 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Young: 5 cm. Mature: 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—Young: 5 mm. Mature: 9 mm.         -   Internode length.—3-9 cm.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Color.—Young: C0C080. Mature: 604020 (FIG. 3). -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite single.         -   Stipules.—NA.         -   Size of the leaf.—Length 18 cm. Width: 11.5 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Young Elliptic. Mature Elliptic.         -   Shape of apex.—Short acuminate.         -   Shape of base.—Cuneate.         -   Texture.—Shiny with satin finish on the upper surface of the             leaf; the lower surface dull.         -   Margin type.—Serrate with base entire.         -   Pubescence.—None present — Glabrous.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface 04000. Lower             Surface: 406020. (FIG. 3). Mature leaves: Upper             Surface 04000. Lower surface 406000. (FIG. 3).         -   Petiole.—Shape: D Shaped. Length: 2-3 cm. Diameter: 5 mm.             Color: A0C040 (FIG. 3).         -   Veins (venation-pinnate).—Color; Upper surface: C0C060.             Lower Surface:C0C060 (FIG. 3). -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—June through early to mid-November             in Michigan, USA.         -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.         -   Bud.—Shape of Cluster: Round. Diameter of cluster: 3.5-5 cm.             Number of buds per cluster: 95. Shape: Flat Globe. Length:             2 mm. Width: 2 mm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Shape.—Round panicle, Mophead type panicle.         -   Depth.—12 cm.         -   Diameter.—18-21 cm.         -   Average number of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately             95.         -   Average number of inflorescence per plant.—45-50, depending             on frost conditions that year.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—3 months.         -   Lastingness of an inflorescences.—3 months. -   Petals: See petaloid sepals. -   Petaloid sepals:     -   -   Number per flower.—4.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Multi colored shades of Blue, Pink,             and Mauve. Shades of Blue: 4020FF, 4040FF, 4060FF, 4080FF,             40A0FF, 40A0E0, 4080E0, 2040FF, 2040E0, 2040C0, 2020E0,             2000E0, 0060C0, 0060E0, 0060FF, 0080E0, 0080FF, 80E0FF,             80FFFF, A0FFFF, 80C0FF (FIG. 3). Shades of Mauve: E000FF,             E020FF, E040FF, C000E0, 600060, 6040C0, 6020E0, 6000A0,             600080, 602080 (FIG. 3). Shades of Pink: FFC0FF, E0A0C0,             E0A0E0 (FIG. 3). Lower surface: Multi colored shades of             Blue, Pink, and Mauve. Shades of Blue: 40A0C0, 60C0E0,             60E0E0, 60C0FF, 60E0FF, 60FFFF, 80C0E0, 80C0FF, 80E0FF,             80FFFF (FIG. 3). Shades of Mauve: 6080C0, 6080E0, A080C0,             A060E0, A060FF, A080E0, A080FF, A0A0C0, A0A0E0, A0A0FF,             E080E0, E0A0E0, E0A0FF, E0C0E0, E0C0FF (FIG. 3). Shades of             Pink: E0C0E0, FFA0E0, FFA0FF, FFC0E0, FFC0FF, FFE0FF, FFE0E0             (FIG. 3).         -   Shape.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—2-3 cm.         -   Width.—1.5-3 cm.         -   Apex.—(Shape) Acute.         -   Base.—(Shape) Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Irregular serrate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Fused.—No. -   Petaloids: NA. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—2-3 cm.         -   Diameter.—3 mm.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Color.—E0FFC0 (FIG. 3). -   Pedicels, sterile and fertile flowers:     -   -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.8 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—E0FFC0 (FIG. 3). -   Stamens:     -   -   Number per fertile flower.—8.         -   Filament length.—0.5-1.0 mm.         -   Anthers shape.—Oblong. Length 1 mm.         -   Color.—FFFFE0 (FIG. 3).         -   Pollen color.—FFFFE0 (FIG. 3). -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—25 mm.         -   Style.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Stigma number.—2-parted. Shape: Compact. Color: FFFFE0 (FIG.             3). Size: less than 1 mm.         -   Ovaries (half inferior).—Length: 2 mm. Width: 1 mm. Color:             FFFFE0 (FIG. 3).         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Disease resistance: Resistance to the leaf spot, Bipolaris     sorokiniana, and the blight, Erysiphe graminis. -   Temperature tolerance: Very good; resistance to scorch in full sun;     plant of the new Hydrangea have been shown to tolerate temperatures     between −26° C. and 40° C. -   Drought tolerance: Average. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hydrangea plant substantially as illustrated and described herein. 